I must be getting away as well," spoke up Ruthven, taking a good hard look at the unsocialable man.
"You'd best get used to friendly folk around here, mister. For a man who puts people off, why, he's just more likely to bring 'em on. Some types just can't resist the challenge, you see, of turning people 'round." Alrik stared almost angrily at the old woman but instead of retaliating with a rude outburst, he slightly grinned, shrugged his shoulders, and dug into his eggs.
Ruthven cackled a little to herself and nodded to new woman, who seemed so eager to catch Hama's attention. Silently to herself she wondered what kind of day her friend Bethberry would have.
She caught the Innkeeper busy at her desk, reading over small piles of paper and marking items in a ledge, her hand neatly, with great deliberation, writing in a large leather-bound book. Sometimes, Ruthven thought, her friend sought out that ledger as a way to avoid too much of the chitchat of life in an Inn.
"You'll have a full house today, I warrant," said the grey-haired woman to the Innkeeper.
"That I will, I think. Will you be back at dinner?"
"I shall. I don't think I want to miss Eodwine's enterprising ways with that solemn stranger there."
'If he stays the day. He hasn't said much yet," replied the Innkeeper, watching him from a distance and wondering what journey brought him hither. "But I wonder if Hama has his hands full." Bethberry nodded ever so slightly in the direction of Adu.
Ruthven grinned. "You'll have tales to tell me this evening." With that, she was off, her old cloak wrapped loosely around her and her old feet treading a slow shuffle on the worn wooden floor.
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